According to the National Association of Social Workers, “Social workers help people increase their capacities for problem solving and coping, and they help them obtain needed resources, facilitate interactions between individuals and between people and their environments, make organizations responsible to people, and influence social policies.” I couldn’t agree more.
In a matter of moments I can find dozens of articles and lists online that highlight skills that predict entrepreneurial success. Skills frequently identified include communication skills, planning and organizing skills, the ability to recognize opportunities, high ethical standards, resilience, and negotiation skills. I provide college success coaching, career coaching to entry-level job hunters and experienced employees seeking promotion and community relations consulting. I strongly believe that my MSW degree enhances the aforementioned skills and has aided me greatly on my entrepreneurial journey.
As you know, I received my Masters of Social Work degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore with a concentration in Management and Community Organization and a specialization in Social Action and Community Development. I have been able to apply my understanding of human behavior, motivation, and interpersonal connections learned in the classroom in business and nonprofit environments.
The traditional social work skills of empathy, boundary setting, active listening, advocacy, and self-awareness implemented in my career endeavors have also allowed me to:
-Conduct needs assessments
-Understand changes in the work environment
-Build effective teams
-Guide strategic planning sessions
-Assess public perception and images
-Facilitate community partnerships
-Emphasize systematic change/improvement
-Manage a 21st century workforce
-Teach and train volunteers, interns, and employees
I have found that one of the greatest strengths of the social work profession is the diversity of opportunities to make a difference while doing work that you love.
Happy Social Work Month!
Nicki Sanders is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager. She has packaged her Masters of Social Work degree and over 15 years of work experience into Packaged For Success, a training and professional development company. Packaged For Success provides career coaching to college students, entry-level job hunters, and experienced employees seeking a promotion. Packaged For Success also offers communication and productivity improvement training for employees and supervisors and provides consultation on building sustainable, impactful, socially responsible community programs.
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